Slicing machine



June 19, 1945. H. THOMAS SLICING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet} 7 4% a w i Ju e 19, 1945. H; THOMAS 2,378,664

SLICING MACHINE Filed June '22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, 1945 myg ismres PATENT OFFICE Henry Thomas, Chingford, England, 'assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte', 11111.,

a corporation of Indiana I Application June22, 1944, Serial No. 541,539

In Great Britain March 23, 1943.,

9' Claims. (Cl. 146-102) This invention relates in general to slicing machines and more particularly to slicing machines of thetype having an inclined rotary slicing knife and an inclined reciprocable substance holder or support providing for the feeding of substance to they cutting plane. of the knife by ravity- 1 An object of this invention is to' provide'compact, safe, simple and eflicienttmeans in such a machine for supporting the. substance holder in relation'to the base of'themachine so that it may be quickly and. eifectivelyshifted from an operative setting to an inoperative settingto; provide unobstructed-access to otherwise inaccessible portions of the machine toenable them to be adjusted, repaired, removed, replaced, and cleaned. Another object of this invention isthe provision of novel means in such amachine for pivotallysupporting .a-substance holder so that it may be swung: conveniently from an operative setting in which the holderis-supporteii at an inclination, usuallyacomplemen-tary to the inclination of the slicingknifato an inoperative setting. in. a predetermined position of adjustment in its. reciprocal travel, preferably: at an end.- of its :stroke. remote from the cutting-plane of the knife. Aiurther object of the. invention is the provistance support, andmeans on the base and arranged cooperative relation with the. coop erative means on the substance support for preventing reciprocal movement of the substance supportwhen it is out of operative relation with theknife. I

Additional objects, advantages and capabilities inherent in..this invention will become readily apparent from the description thereof which follows.--

This inventioniurther resides in the combination, construction-and. arrangement of parts i1.- lustrated in thea'ccompanying drawings, and while there is shown'therein preferred embodiments .of'the invention, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the-spirit of the invention. I v v The. accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the. invention; and the views therein are-as follows: 4 w

sion of novel. means in. suchamachine for enablingpivotalmovernent of the substanceholderintoand out of. operative relation with the knife in. a direction transverse to/thedirection of reciprocal movement of the.-holder....

Other objects of the inventionincludethe provision of. novel-means .in such a machinev for anchoring the substanceholderagainst reciprocal movement in relationto thecutting. plane of the knife while the holder is in an. inoperative setting; thev provisionof novel means in such a machine for limitingpivotal movement of the substance support; the provision of novel means in such a machine for preventing the pivoting of the substance, holder froman. operative set-' ting to an inoperative. setting exceptwhen the holder is in a predetermined position in relation to the cutting. plane of the-knife; and the provision in sucha machine of cooperative means on the substance holder orxjsupport and the base of the machine including gu'idelmeans mounted on the. base. and arranged in angular spaced re, lation ,withthe plane of rotation of the knife and a supporting. arm mounted. on theghide means for 'pivotaland for-sliding movement in relation thereto: and operatively connected withthe sub- Fig. 1 is an end. elevation, partiallyin section, of a slicing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2'is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of inFigply Fig. 3 is-a fragmentary side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, looking to the left in that figure; r I, 1

Fig. .4 is a fragmentary end elevation of amachine embodying-a modified form of the tion, partially in section;

Fig. 5 is a. detail. view, partially in section, of portions of 'the'machine shown in Fig. 4.

The particular machine herein disclosed fo the purpose of. illustrating the invention, .as shown in. Figs. 1', 2 and 3, comprises a base I0 including a casing H which is generally closed. A knife supporting bracket l2.is mounted on the base In and angularly arrangedin relation to the base, being inclined upwardly and rearwarde 1y. A rotary slicing knife [3, circular in form, is

invenportions of the machine shown nected through. a pulley and belt driving assembly M with a wormgear l5 mounted on. the drive shaft of theelectric motor i6,.whichis supportedon thebase In. within the casing II. An adjustable. gauge platev H is supported on the bracket 12 in cooperative relation with the knife Iii-and is encased in a guard l8 includinga mask l9 also supported onthebracket l2... The gauge plate 'I'Lis adjustable through a handle 20 rotatably mounted in the casing I l and connected with the gauge plate by conventional means, not shown.

A track orgenerally rectangular guide rod 2! is provided on a rearwardly facing surface of the casing I and a generally cylindrical guide rod 22 is provided within and adjacent the front of the casing H in generally parallel relation with the track 2|, opposite ends of the rod 22 being suitably mounted in opposite end portions of the casing A substance holder or support 23 of trough form and approximate L-section is secured to a sup porting arm 24 adjacent one end thereof. The supporting arm 24 has a curved extension including a generally reverse end portion 25 which extends through an elongated slot .26 in the front wall of the casing I in spaced relation with the rod 22. The portion 25 terminates in a bearing or carriage 21 which is slidalbly and pivotally mounted on the guide rod 22. A roller 28 is rotatably mounted on the supporting arm 24 adjacent its end portion remote from the portion 25 for rolling engagement With the track 2| when the substance holder or support is in its operative setting or position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The arrangement of the substance holder 23, the supporting arm 24, and their associated parts, is such that the substance holder, in its operative setting, extends in a direction normal to the cutting plane of the knife, the inclination of the holder and the knife, as shown in Fig. 1, being approximately 45 to the horizontal. The holder and its supporting arm 24 are reciprocal by means of a handle 29 provided on the supporting arm along the guide rod 22 and the track 2| in this angular relation. The holder 23, the supporting arm 24, the guides 2| and 22 and their associated parts, furthermore, are arranged so as to provide for such a distribution of their mass, together with the mass of any substance carried by the holder 23, that the combined weight of the holder, its support and the substance borne by it will be carried mainly b the roller 28 and the track 2|, thus providing for freely sliding movement of the bearing 2! along the guide rod 22.

In operating the machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the operator will normally occupy a stance facing the view shown in Fig. 1 with his right hand gripping the handle 29 and his left hand in position convenient tothe usual slice receiving platform 3|! provided on the base II].

In operating the machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the operator will normally occupy a stance facing the view shown in Fig. 1 with his right hand gripping the handle 29 and his left hand in position convenient to the usual slice receiving platform an provided on the base In.

The elongated slot 26 i generally of sufficient width to enable free passage along it of the portion 25 of the supporting arm 24, with provision of the downwardly extending enlarged portion or recess 3| adjacent one end thereof for receiving the portion 25 upon pivotal movement of the holder 23 and the supporting arm 24 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when it is desired toshift or swing the holder from operative setting or position to inoperative position. The recess 3| serves to prevent sliding of the holder and its supporting arm along the guide rod 22. In its inoperative position the holder is entirely removed or displaced from theslicing assembly. that is; the knife, the gauge plate and associated parts, so that safe and ready access may be had to the holder and parts of the machine inaccessible when the holder is in its operative setting for cleaning the parts and other purposes.

In order to prevent inadvertent displacement of the holder 23 from its operative setting a spring-loaded hinged plate 32 may be secured on the base In normally to be received within the recess 3| and to serve as a closure therefor. When it is desired to shift the holder 23 from its operative to it inoperative setting, the operator will first press the plate 32 inwardly against the action of its associated spring and thereafter shift the holder to inoperative position, a surface of the portion 25 of the supporting arm 24 engaging the plate 32. and displacing it to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon return .of the holder 23 to operative position, the plate 32 will be returned to normal position within the recess 3| by the operation of its associated spring.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, instead of using a roller and track support for the holder 23 at the rear of the casing L as shown in Fig. 1, an auxiliary guide rod 33 is mounted on the base H1 in parallel spaced relation with the guide rod 22. The portion 25 of the arm 24 is omitted and the corresponding end portion of the arm 24 is hinged at 34 to an angulated slide member 35 which is provided with a bearing 35a slidably mounted on the guide rod 22 and with a fork 25 spanning the auxiliary guide rod 33. The hinge connection between the arm 24 and the slide 35 is such as to permit the arm 24 and the holder 23 to be pivoted in a manner similar to that described in connection with the arrangement of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but the end of the arm 24 has abutting relationship with the part to which it is pivoted to hold the arm normally in the position shown in Fig. 4. In order to prevent displacement of the holder 23 from its operative setting or position to its inoperative setting or position, except at a predetermined position of adjustment in its range of reciprocal movement, an opening 3'! is provided in the base ID for receiving a spring pressed pin 38 which is mounted in the slide member 35 in cooperative spaced relation with a projection 39 provided on the arm 24 adjacent the hinge 34. The arrangement is such that upon swinging of the arm 24 to the right, viewing Figs. 4 and 5, the projection 39 will engage the head of the pin 38 and press its opposite end into the opening 31, provided that the holder is in the appropriate position so that the pin registers with the opening; otherwise when it is attempted to swing the holder, the pin will strike the wall of the base and obstruct displacement of the holder. It will, be readily apparent that the pin 38 also functions to secure the substance holder against sliding movement when displaced into it inoperative setting with the pin received within the opening 31.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A slicing machine comprising a base, a slicing knife mounted on the base for rotary cutting movement in a plane disposed in angular spaced relation with the base, an adjustable gauge plate for determining thickness of slice, a substance support mounted on the base for reciprocal movement in predetermined angular relation to the cutting plane of the knife, cooperative means on the support and the base operable to enable pivotal movement of the support into and out of operative relation with the knife. the

sea-tar cbbtmtive means. mprising guide means mounted onthe base and, arranged in angular spaced-relation with the, plane of rotation. of V the knife and asupporting; arm mountedon the guide" means 'for' pivotal and forslid'ing' move-c ment inrelati'on thereto] and operatively con: nected with the substance support, and means on the base and arranged in cooperative relation with,fth'ecooperative'ineans on the substance support for preventingl'the ,saidreciprocal"movement} out of operative relation with the knife, the said cooperative means comprising guide means mounted on the base and arranged in angular spaced relation with the plane of rotation of the knife and a supporting arm mounted on the guide means for pivotal and for sliding move.- ment in relation thereto and operatively conriage mounted on thebase for reciprocal' moveg ment in relation to thencutting planeofthe nected with the substance support, means on the I base and arranged in cooperative relation with the cooperative means on the substance support for limiting pivotal movement of the substance support, and means on the base and arranged in cooperative relation with thecooperative means on the substance support for preventing the said reciprocal movement of the substance support when the substance supportis out of relation with the knife.

3. A slicing machine comprising a base, a slicing knife mounted on the base for rotary cutting movement in 'a plane disposed in angular spaced relation with the base, an adjustable gauge operative plate for determining thickness of slice, a substance support-mounted on the basefor reciprocal movement in predetermined angular relation to the cutting plane of the knife, cooperative means on the support and the base operable to enable pivotal movement of the support into and out of operative relation with the-knife, the said cooperative means comprising guide means mounted on the base'and arranged in angular spaced relation with the planeof rotation of the knife and a supporting arm mounted'on the guide means for pivotal and for sliding movement in relation thereto and operatively connected with the substance supp rt, means onthe base and arranged in cooperative relation with the cooperative means on the substance support for limiting pivotal movement of the substance support, and manually operable means on the base and arranged in cooperative relation with the cooperative means on the substance sup port for preventingthe said reciprocal movement of the substance support when the substance support is out of operative relation with the knife.-

4. A slicingmachine comprising a base, a slic? ing knife mounted on the base for rotary cut; ting movement in a plane disposed in angular spaced relation with the base, an adjustable gauge plate for determining thickness of slice, a carriage mounted on the base for reciprocal move for reciprocal movement in predetermined align larrelation to the cutting; plane 'ofj knife, cooperative meansv on the. support 'a'nd'the car:

riageoperable to enable pivotal'movement of the support into and out of, operative relation, with the knife, and. cooperativemeans, on the carriage. and the base for. preventing the said reciprocal movementf'of the support when the support is outjof operative. relation with/the knife. Q 5. A slicing machine comprising a base, a'., sli cingknife mounted'on the base forfrotarycuttingfimovement in afpl'ane disposed in angular' spaced relationwith'the base, an'a'diustable gauge plate for determining thickness of slice, a carknife, a subsance support mounted on the car'- riage for reciprocal movement in predetermined angular relation to the cutting plane of the knife, cooperative means on the support and the carriage operable to enable pivotal movement of the suppport into and out of operative relation with the knife, cooperative means on the carriage and the base for preventing the said reciprocal movement of the support when the support is out of operative relation with the knife, andtioned cooperative means.

'6. A slicing machine comprising a base, a slicing knife mounted on the base for rotary cutting movementin a plane disposed in angular spaced relation with the base, an adjustable gauge means on the support for operating the last men- 'plate for determining thickness of'slice, a carriage mounted on the base for reciprocal movement in relation to the cutting plane of the knife, a substance supportmounted on the carriage for reciprocal movement in predetermined angular relation to the cutting plane of the knife, cooperative means on the support and the carriage operable to enable pivotal movement of the support into and out of operative relation with the knife, and cooperative means on the carriage and the base for preventing the said reciprocal movement of the support when the support is out of operative relation with the knife, the, last mentioned cooperative means comprising keeper means on the base and spring actuated latch means onthe carriage and arranged'in cooperative relation with the keeper means. 7. A slicing machine comprising a base, a 5110-' ing knife mounted on the base for rotary cutting movement in a plane disposed in angular spaced relation with the base, an adjustable gauge plate for determining thickness of slice, a substance support mounted on the base forreciprocal movement in predetermined angular relation to the cutting plane of the knife, cooperative means on the support and the base operable to enable pivotal movement of the support into and out of operative relation with the knife, and means on the base for preventing pivotal movement of the support except when the support is in a predetermined position of adjustment in relation to the cutting plane of the knife.-

8. A slicing machine comprising a base, a slicing knife rotatably mounted on said base, motive means operatively connected with said knife to drive the knife, a rod carried by the base, a

bearing sleeve slidable on the rod, a substance support connected to said bearing sleeve, said substance support being mounted above said base ment in relation to the cutting plane of the knife; a substance support mounted on the carriage for to-and-fro reciprocation in a rectilinear path parallel to the cutting plane of the knife to convey substance'into slicing engagement with said inoperative position in a direction perpendicu lar .to the knife cutting plane and away therefrom to bare the upper surface of the base, and

means'to prevent such pivotal movement of the support to inoperative position except when the support is at a predetermined position with respect to the base.

9; A slicing machine comprising a base, a slicing knife rotatably mounted on said base, motive means operatively connected with said knife, to drive the knife, a rod carried by the base, a bearing sleeve slidable on the rod, a substance supportfconnected to said bearing sleeve, said substance support being mounted above said base forto-and-fro reciprocation in a rectilinear path parallel to the cutting plane of the knife to convey substance into slicing engagement with said knife, said substance support being pivotally mounted on anaxis parallel to thev cutting plane and on the side thereof which isremote from the knifeso that the support may be swung to an inoperative position in a direction perpendicular to the knife cutting plane and away therefrom to bare the upper surface of the base, means to prevent such pivotal movement of the support to inoperativeposition except when the support is at a predetermined position with respect to the base, and locking means to lock said support in said predetermined position and preventing reciprocation of said support when the support is in'locked inoperative position.

HENRY THOMAS. 

